Tag: John Sermon Series | New Beginnings Church

Reading: Matthew 5:43-48 Sermon: John 6:1-15 Discussion Questions: 1) What are some of the practical implications of the doctrine of man's depravity? 2) What is the relationship between the doctrine of total depravity and the doctrine of election? How does the former make the latter necessary? 3) Many people have a difficult time with the doctrine of depravity. We see this in our time, but we see it in John 6 as well. Why might the doctrine be so difficult for some people to accept? 4) Was the purpose of this miracle to convince the followers to believe? Why or why not? 5) Read Matthew 5:43-48. How does our passage in John relate to this passage in Matthew? more...

The Sufficiency of Christ (12/15/2019)

Reading: Exodus 16:13-18 Sermon: John 6:1-15 Discussion Quesions: 1) Why might people want to "remove God" from a passage like this? 2) In what ways do we see the same thing in our day and age that John records in verse 2? 3) What are some parallels between this passage and the exodus? Why are those parallels significant? 4) Why did the people miss the significance - the message - of this event? 5) Read verses 10-11 again. Why does John specially tell us that only those who were seated were fed? What is the spiritual lesson there for us? 6) Is there anything significant about the number of elements (2 fish and 5 barley loaves) Jesus multiplied? Is there anything significant about the number of baskets (12) of leftovers? 7) Philip was being tested (v.6). In the end, did he pass the test? Why or why not? more...

The Testimony of Scripture (12/8/2019)

Reading: Luke 24:13-27 Sermon: John 5:39-47 Discussion Questions: 1) Why does Jesus spend so much time focusing on the testimony of the Scriptures? 2) What are some real-life examples of the way that people use Scripture to exalt themselves? What are some ways that people can read the Scriptures to exalt someone other than themselves, but not Jesus (think of the religious leaders and their view of Moses)? 3) Be honest with yourself: how prone are you to search the Scriptures to confirm your interests or ideas? How should a person deal with that tendency? 4) Pastor Toby talked about the importance of wanting and expecting to be challenged by Scripture. Why is that important? What are the risks associated with NOT wanting to be challenged by Scripture? 5) What are the three primary ways that we see the Old Testament Scriptures testifying of or directing us to Jesus? more...

The Father's Witness (11/24/2019)

Reading: Deuteronomy 19:15-19 Sermon: John 5:30-40 Discussion Questions: 1) Are God's sovereignty and human responsibility at odds with one another? How comfortable/uncomfortable are you with this mystery? Why can we never fully grasp the mind of God? 2) Why does God instruct us to do things that we are, by nature, incapable of doing on our own (e.g. obeying all 600+ commands of the law, coming to Christ for salvation, etc.)? 3) What can we learn about witnessing from this passage? 4) How would you respond to someone who claims that they'd believe in God if they could witness just one miracle? 5) In what was does verse 35 issue a warning for us? more...

A Matter of Life and Death (11/17/2019)

Reading: Daniel 7:9-14 Sermon: John 5:24-30 Discussion Questions: 1) Some people say that we shouldn't talk about judgment with people, but should only assure them of God's love for them. In what way(s) is this mistaken? 2) What does it mean to "hear" the voice of Christ (vv. 24-25)? 3) Why must regeneration precede faith (see John 3:3; 5:24-25)? 4) Read verse 28. Why is Jesus appointed to be the Judege of humanity? 5) How would you respond to someone who claims that verse 29 infers that salvation is by works? more...

Like Father, Like Son (11/10/2019)

Reading: 2nd Kings 5:1-7 Sermon: John 5:17-24 Discussion Questions: 1) Why is Jesus not guilty of breading the command to observe the Sabbath? 2) Why does Jesus defend Himself by claiming to be God rather than simply correcting the theological misunderstandings of the Jewish leaders? 3) Can people who deny that Jesus is fully God be saved? Why not? 4) Why does Jesus' willful subordination to the will of the Father NOT imply that He's inferior to the Father? 5) in what way does Jesus claim to be God in John 5:23? 6) Why does it dishonor the Fther for a person to dishonor the Son? What does it mean to "dishonor the Son?" 7) How do you respond to the claim that Christians think they're better than everyone else by thinking that they're the only ones God will save? more...

Lord of the Sabbath (10/20/2019)

Reading: Exodus 20:8-11 Sermon: John 5:9-16 Discussion Questions: 1) What is legalism? How is it different from a zeal for obedience? 2) In what ways are the Pharisees similar to the "multitudes" by the pool at Bethesda? 3) What is the significance of Jesus finding the man in the temple (v. 14)? 4) Would the man be able to "sin no more" (v.14; consider also 1st John 1:8)? If not, why would Jesus issue this warning? 5) Why is the Christian Sabbath (i.e., the Lord's Day) on the first day of the week, rather than the last day (Saturday)? more...